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MH17 victim Fatima Dyczynski's parents to travel to war-torn Ukraine in search of their daughter

Ben Horne

Fatima Dyczynski was headed for Perth to take up a job with IBM. Photo: Facebook

Amsterdam: The parents of Fatima Dyczynski have flown to Ukraine despite Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott declaring victims' relatives would be "ill-advised" to travel to the war-torn crash site of MH17.

George and Angela Dyczynski arrived in Amsterdam early on Thursday morning from Perth, determined to search for their 25-year-old daughter who they are still holding out hope is alive.

They were accompanied by Dutch officials when they landed and again hours later when they prepared for their flight to Kiev.

Fatima Dyczynski aimed high. Photo: Facebook

From there they will make their way to Donetsk, the eastern Ukraine region where Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was downed a week ago.

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Mr Dyczynski - wearing a T-shirt with his daughter's face printed on it and the words, "Fatima We Love You" - said he and his wife would travel to the dangerous region believing their daughter could still be alive after her mobile phone rang out after the crash.

"We go today. We've got a connecting flight to Donetsk to the site where the aircraft attack was," he told reporters.

"We believe she's alive. Did you see the CNN report about the mobile phones? So we go. Today we fly to Donetsk and we find her."

Asked if government officials were taking them, he said:

"No, we go on our own. But we have a lot of support of people from the media, the government."

After providing their DNA for investigation purposes upon touching down in Holland, the grief-stricken couple visited the memorial at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport where thousands of flowers and tributes have been laid for the 298 victims.

Following a visit to a hotel for families and friends in Amsterdam, the couple returned to board their flight.

The scene at the departure gate was an emotional one as Mr and Mrs Dyczynski bid farewell to the Dutch officials who had assisted them.

Close friends of Fatima were also there - a distraught Ces de la Cruz embracing Mr and Mrs Dyczynski and another unnamed friend wiping away tears as she shared stories of undertaking Bible studies with Fatima.

As the two friends went through the departure gate with the parents, the mood took an unexpected turn as Mrs Dyczynski angrily ordered de la Cruz not to speak with media any more or risk being cut out of the family's circle of trust.

Mr Abbott warned at a press conference in Canberra on Thursday the dangers of travelling to the rebel-controlled area near Donetsk, where he hopes an international police task force involving at least 50 Australian officers will soon be in place to secure the site.

All the victims' remains are being taken to Holland for identification, and each plane will be met by an Australian diplomatic official and a military officer.

There will be a ceremony each time similar to the initial welcoming on Wednesday; a second took place on Thursday afternoon local time.

An RAAF C-17A Globemaster aircraft and Australian crew were involved in the process, which will continue until the transfer of all remains is completed.

Twelve Australian forensic and Disaster Victim Identification specialists are at Hilversum, south of Eindhoven, to assist with the identification process.

Families will be the first to be advised once the remains have been formally identified as part of Operation Bring Them Home.

The government would give families the opportunity to fly to Holland and accompany loved ones on their final journey home on an Australian military aircraft, Mr Abbott said.

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